There can be little dispute that Warren Buffett ranks among the all-time great investors. As CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, he has maintained a market beating record for more than half a century.
As much attention as is focused on Berkshire Hathaway’s primary assets, there is another aspect of Buffett’s investment strategy that goes unnoticed: the “secret portfolio.”
Berkshire’s Hidden Gem
For $22 billion, Berkshire Hathaway bought out General Re, a reinsurance firm, in 1998. Berkshire received $610 million in assets managed by New England Asset Management (NEAM), an investment branch of General Re, as part of this acquisition.
So, although Buffett isn’t hands-on with NEAM’s investments, the final say in which stocks NEAM chooses rests with Berkshire and Buffett. Imagine a very intelligent stock portfolio that Warren Buffett keeps under wraps.
An Exclusive Look at 5 Secret Picks Set to Soar
111 equities make up NEAM’s portfolio, according to its most recent SEC filings. However, five of these investments stand out as very promising for 2024. All investors should keep an eye out for these hidden jewels, so let’s have a look at them.
1. AT&T: The 5G Powerhouse Trading Near 30-Year Lows
First, with a dividend yield of 7% right now, telecom giant AT&T is a fantastic investment. Even if AT&T’s stock took a nosedive in 2023 due to worries about its outdated infrastructure, the company is now in a prime position to benefit from the expansion of 5G.
Thanks to AT&T’s enhanced network, investors may enjoy lightning-fast 5G internet rates. Plus, preliminary numbers show that consumers are reacting by making greater use of data, which is AT&T’s main source of income.
With 1+ million net adds for the sixth year in a row in 2023, the rollout is also contributing to AT&T’s growth in broadband users.
The separation of WarnerMedia from AT&T also significantly improved the company’s financial position. At&T has reduced its net commitments by more than $40 billion, relieving the share price from the weight of its burdensome debt.
Thanks to a reduction in net debt to $128.7 billion, AT&T’s generous dividend appears to be sustainable for the foreseeable future.
In sum, the 5G tailwinds coincide with a better financial situation and a valuation not witnessed in 30 years. At its current price, AT&T is looking too good to pass up as a dividend lover.
2. Johnson & Johnson: The Healthcare Giant Trading Near Decade Lows
One more company that Buffett has kept a secret is Johnson & Johnson, which is currently experiencing some turmoil as a result of unresolved legal issues.
On the other hand, seasoned investors are aware that purchasing top-tier businesses amid legal uncertainty can yield good returns. Have a look at Warren Buffett.
In spite of the high-profile legal concerns, J&J is still a very well-managed company. Actually, out of all 500 companies in the S&P 500, it is one of just two that have a AAA rating. Moving forward, J&J will be able to manage the results of lawsuits thanks to their immense financial power.
Crucially, J&J isn’t stopping with its massive moves to solidify its position as market leader. The last ten years have seen the corporation strategically pivot toward pharmaceuticals with greater potential for growth and profit margins.
J&J’s consumer division is unable to compete with the superior price power afforded by its brand-name pharmaceuticals.
Due to looming legal concerns, investors can purchase shares of this Dividend King for only 14.7 times projected profits. For a strong, established corporation like J&J, that’s the lowest valuation in almost a decade.
3. Bank of America: The Value Bank Stock Built for Rising Rates
Another well-known name that appears among NEAM’s top shares is Bank of America, and rightfully so. Even though bank stocks have taken a hit due to economic uncertainty, the cyclical nature of financials implies big gains when things get better.
Furthermore, it seems like Bank of America is well positioned to outperform peers as monetary policy becomes tighter.
No other megabank is expected to have a greater increase in interest income than BofA in the next quarters, according to experts, due to the bank’s strong asset-sensitive emphasis. The Federal Reserve’s rate hikes have already boosted quarterly profits by billions.
Deep value now is also reassuring for long-term investors. BoA stock is a steal compared to its larger competitors, trading at a whopping 6% below book value.
For the year 2024, Bank of America looks like a fantastic financial sector selection thanks to rising rates, discounted pricing, and economic mean reversion.
4. PayPal: The Fintech Leader Growing Into Its Cheap Valuation
In2023, with inflation on the rise and spending headwinds, PayPal has had its fair share of problems. Recent operational data, however, shows that PayPal’s overall payment volume—a key indicator for fintech giants—continues to rise steadily.
Overall, PayPal saw a double-digit increase in payments processed last quarter, even after accounting for currency variations. The upward trend in user involvement is also noteworthy. The average number of transactions processed by each active PayPal account per year has increased to 56.6 in the last 12 months.
With more and more people using its top platform, PayPal will be in a good position to turn users’ activity into money once the economy recovers. Meanwhile, investors might benefit from the fact that the most prominent name in fintech is currently trading at a six-year low of 11 ahead earnings.
With its solid operational indicators now and significant upside potential once valuation multiples rebound, PayPal is the ideal investment for Buffett’s hidden portfolio.
5. Alphabet: Secular Growth and Rising Cash Flows Meet a Generational Buying Opportunity
As one of Warren Buffett’s hidden treasures, Alphabet appears to be a fantastic 2024 investment. With over 90% of the global search market and major advancements in cloud computing, YouTube, and more, the digital giant shows no signs of slowing down.
But Alphabet’s price-to-cash flows multiple has shrunk significantly, even as top line expansion has been rough. Compared to 5-year averages, today’s share price is over a third lower, trading at only 13 forward cash flows.
One of the world’s leading inventors is offering investors the option to purchase their shares at a price that is 60% lower than what Mr. Market has usually asked, while putting up revenue growth of 20%+.
It doesn’t get much better than that for an investor who takes cues from Buffett. Alphabet has a transient mispricing on top of its strong holdings in markets with secular growth. As the value of businesses continues to contract, investors who buy now may see tremendous outperformance in the next five to ten years.
The Secret Is Out: Load Up on These 5 Dynamos for 2024
Having a leg up in the information game is crucial in the financial world. A previously concealed portion of Warren Buffett’s stock portfolio is now freely available to ordinary investors because to unusual filings.
With any luck, these five top choices will continue to skyrocket in 2024 and beyond. Investors can choose from a wide range of companies in NEAM’s top rankings, including deep value plays like AT&T and accelerating innovators like Alphabet.
You may now enter the new year riding high on the success of Buffett’s unannounced stock recommendations. This is your chance; seize it by stocking up on these strong suggestions for hidden gems.